THE MANDELA OPTION: SOME LESSONS HERE FOR NGIGE, I THINK? BY COMR. AGU DAVID

Some people aren't going to take this in the good sense. I'm probably stepping on a no-go area in Anambra politics by writing this piece. This is so, considering the fact that in Anambra state, there seems to...

be an understanding that only Dr. Chris Ngige and his supporters have
the monopoly of criticisms. So, while Ngige and his cronies endlessly
verbally brutalize everybody and anything that is not pro-Ngige, it
certainly feels inappropriate in Anambra State to utter a word against
Ngige by way of criticism. However, as much as I'm aware of that
existing political inequality in freedom of expressing criticism in
Anambra State, I still can't help but mention these little feelings
I've had for some time now about the great "Onwa" of Anambra State.
I've kept that feeling suppressed within me, waiting for the privilege
of the day I'll expresss it to him (Ngige) face to face, not as a foe,
but as a concerned friend. So far, that cherished privilege hasn't
come yet. But the recent historical incidence of the death of the
African (world's, I mean) oracle of justice and freedom, Nelson
Mandela, has quickened my tongue and thus my pen, and the result is
this not-very-pro-Ngige piece you are currently reading.

Since last Friday when Madiba's death was first announced to the
world, we have all been spellbound by torrents of encomiums flooding
in from every corner of the world. Major International TV stations
like CNN and Aljezera and the ilk, have all dedicated over 90% of
their airtime to the reportage of the Mandela memorials, featuring
varieties of documentaries, activities, speeches, and celebrations,
all in honour of the man who gave life to an entire race of people.
Yours Truly has been hooked to the TV screen ever since, not willing
to miss any portion of the unfolding glory of the heroic Madiba. And
Yours Truly has so far found further reasons to shed some voluntary
tears over an illumination on the things that has made this one man
mean so many positive things to all human stratifications around the
world. And sure you wouldn't blame me either for conclusively holding
unequivocally that Nelson Madiba Mandela was the greatest and best
human being that has ever inhabited the earth surface. Nor will you
blame Barrack Obama for declaring (with the authoritative American
Superpower tone) during last Tuesday's Memorial Service in
Johannesburg that "the world will never again experience a person like
Nelson Mandela. And while I know that I can never live up to the
example set by Mandela, he has created in me the need to always strive
to be a better person". Since that statement came from the politically
assumed 'most powerful man in the world', President Obama himself in
front of over ninety(90) other Heads of State and tens of thousands
mourners , then must I scream before you agree with me that if there's
anyone in the world whom Nigerian politicians need to learn from,
Mandela certainly towers the list? This brings us to the reason why I
chose Sen. Chris Nwabueze Ngige to lead us as we embark on this
Mandela-lessons learning exercise (right now I'm looking over my
shoulders to dodge the many stones already being launched at me by the
staunch believers in Ngigeism. But surely, no weapon thrown against me
shall prosper).

Mandela as we all know had spent 27 years of his life locked up
tightly in South Africa's maximum prisons, Roben Island. Regaining his
long-denied freedom in 1990, and subsequently being elected President
in South Africa's first ever democratic election, Mandela went about
making peace instead of unleashing vengeance on his long-time
oppressors. One of the world leaders who spoke recently had this to
say, "Nelson Mandela gained freedom, not just for himself, but also
for his Jailer". But what really shocked the world, and continues to
shock my very own self, was what he did next. What has come to be
known as 'the Mandela Option'. Mandela voluntarily stepped down after
just one tenure in office as South Africa's President. Former
president Obasanjo recently confessed to having joined other voices in
pressurizing Mandela to seek a second term, which he(Mandela) is
constitutionally entitled to, but he wouldn't bulge. And till date,
the world has not ceased appreciating him for laying down that
landmark sacrificial example. Now this is the example I think Sen.
Chris Ngige should've learnt from.

Since 2003, Sen. Ngige has continued to reap from the mainstream of
Anambra's, and indeed Nigeria's, mainstream of political goodies.
Having been the State's Governor for three years (2003-2006), he
created a reverenced name for himself among the ordinary people of
Anambra State for his fight against god-fatherism. The people didn't
mind the fact that in the first place he started on a crooked
foundation of being rigged in through the PDP's back door. The name
'Ngige' became like a holy image to which none in the state would want
to border to ask questions like "but I thought this man became
governor through a stolen mandate?" I therefore hoped and prayed (for
humanity's sake) that Ngige would allow that reverence to remain, by
retiring to statesmanship. Surely, methinks he had made the greatest
mark and achievement any politician could possibly dream of,
especially under the Nigerian clime, by handling a key political
office and leaving a saintly name on the ground. But that was not to
be. I discovered I was dreaming too big when in 2007, Ngige emerged
again to run the Anambra guber race. He lost, of course. In 2010,
Ngige was again in the race. Again, He lost! And in 2011, he changed
tactics; we saw "Ngige-for-Senate Posters". Haba Ngige, was the much I
could utter during that episode. Then we lost it. Lost all hope that
there was at least one politician from the South East who had the
substance to retain our respect. But he won, and I felt some kind of
relief. I felt that at least now that he has made it to the Senate, he
would finally take some rest from unending political contests and
allow that tiny bit of respectability left of him in the hearts of
Anambrarians to remain. So would you now blame me for feeling totally
heartbroken when he left his quiet comfort at the Senate of the
National Assembly to come down again to meddle in the just-concluded
Anambra guber with freshmen who ordinarily should be hoisting his
image as Ojukwu's was being hoisted by APGA to invoke victory? Alas,
Ngige! Even if he was the Anambra people's saviour, as we all had once
professed, was such salvation predicated on the condition precedent
that Ngige, and no other, must be the occupier of the Awka Government
House? I don't think so. Methinks Mandela has proven that even from
the deepest recess of a retirement home, a man with a good name can
still move the world for positive change. And to confirm my fears that
Ngige has faded, he has just sustained his most humiliating political
defeat in the just concluded guber election. And in as much as I
would've loved to continue to hope for a still-possible
statesman-Ngige, he has deprived me of such hope, because he has gone
to court again. And in as much as we all agree that the just-concluded
election is disputable, Ngige could just do me this personal favour;
just this one favour. Ngige could just learn the Mandela option, and
let go.